I write about events that happen to me and around the world from a writer's point of view. Nothing in my life ever goes smoothly. My focus is on young adult and children's authors, but occasionally I will bring you an adult author. It is my pleasure to introduce new books and authors to my readers. Writing is my life! By Barbara Ehrentreu

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

the Pages on Thursday, June 24th.Janie Franz - author of The Bowdancer seriesHear her on Red River Writers Live Tales from

the Pages on Thursday, June 24th.

This has been a very busy month for me. My husband's condition has pretty much occupied most days. He is a little better and more focused, but still he requires a great deal of attention. This month has been taken up by doctor's visits for him. He is set to go up to Boston in July to see not the top specialist but his second. The head of my husband's medical group is talking to the head of Massachusetts General to see if they can move it forward a little bit.

I can't believe that summer is coming next week! I am not ready for it at all, but I am going to try to get out to the pool. It sits there outside my window taunting me with happy people relaxing and enjoying themselves and making fun noises. But that will require buying a bathing suit, which is probably an entire blog post in itself.:)

I'm not here to write much, but I did want to post my poems from last Wednesday and my poem for this Wednesday's prompt. I have also been busy thinking about subbing my YA novel and I think that is going to happen this week! Yes, I am finally going to send it out and keeping my fingers crossed that this time it will be accepted. My luck has to change soon!!!

Meanwhile, here are the poems:

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Prompt from Poetic Asides website was choose 3 things you can see from your computer or laptop and write a poem about them:

In the course of eventsa new table doesn’t compare towinning the lottery or the joy of yourchild’s first step

But for us the event, uncelebratedas it was, brought a quiet happinessreplacing the trepidation we all feltat mealtimes balancing paper plateson knees while the Balzac statuelooked on safe on its temporary kitchen bar home

And the Betty Boop nurse doll, who hadsurvived inside the hermetic glass sealof the antique china cabinet while smokeinvaded the place we used to call home,must watch as a man twists in the viceof his own body’s war upon him.

copyright 2010 by Barbara Ehrentreu

More from my laptop

They traveled long distancesfrom their original home wheretheir angelic faces were paintedwith delicate strokes – in perpetuitydangling on the stone wall with goatsat their feet, maybe siblings or perhapsclose childhood friends. Such innocentswhisked from the chaos soon to comein their homeland and carried across theocean to rest for years secure in a Queensapartment. Bundled in cotton batting orwithin old discarded pantyhose they journeyedacross the country, from Cortland to West CovinaVestal to Buffalo resting at last in Queens againchipped,diminished by the jostling of unconcernedmovers Long Island to Westchester plunked intomoving boxes until the last move when my numbfingers wrapped them once more while I with breathheld prayed all would survive.

Steadfast they stand a shelf above a transparent preditor,one who should be roaming verdant wilderness takes centerposition on the first shelf its jaws closedMy birth stars dictate the symbol; form the core of my being.

Next to it viewed in profile its massive distinctive headmodeled from sand, painted black it had aged with whitespots ruining the smooth black fantasy. It’s haunches flat on theshelf – perpetually guarding us all proud as the living model

These artifacts retain the lovingtouches from gentle fingersabsorbing a family’s life.

(Hummel figure, glass lion, Newfoundland statue)

copyright 2010 by Barbara Ehrentreu

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Prompt: Write a poem about being stuck.

Blocked Words

The words sit like polite guestswaiting for the moment to spring from my fingersBut that doesn’t come and instead they remainin my brain unable to move until the rightorder brings them forth

Meanwhile hands sit on the keyboardwhile patient words bide their timebecoming unsettled and floatingAwaiting the moment when the rightsentence arranges itself

The first sentence, remains stuckglued in the recesses of my cerebrumOver run by Bthe clog of thoughtssurrounding it like the hair thatKeeps the water from draining

Recriminations, guilt, remorserefuse to allow that fledgling sentenceto form – bullies disrupting the calmPain, distress and aggravation loosethemselves on the helpless words

that courageously form a line and stormpast the word bullies as the first sentenceappears and fingers bring it to life.copyright 2010 by Barbara Ehrentreu

Before I end this I wanted everyone to know about my June show for Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages. I am going to have as my guests Janie Franz, who has visited here before as a guest author and finally Vivian Zabel publisher of 4RV Publishing. I always love having a guest that I have interviewed beforehand like last month with Eric Luper. Next Thursday's show should be great, because Janie's new work in the Bowdancer series is being published. Vivian will be talking about whether she is open to submissions and sharing a little bit of her list with us. 4RV Publishing publishes almost all kinds of genres. If you are interested in learning more about Vivian and 4RV this is a don't miss show. Vivian has a few books she has written that I'm sure we will be talking about on the show.

Until the next time thank you to any new readers. I'm so glad you decided to visit here. Also thank you to the readers who continue to come here to read my meanderings. Another giant hug to all the wonderful people who have sent me their thoughts and prayers and hugs. You are all the best and your support helps me so much!!!